Zambia: Murder Suspect in Botched Suicide

A POLICE officer yesterday testified that a Chibombo man who attempted to commit suicide after he allegedly murdered his wife and secretly buried her in a shallow grave, had a deep cut on his stomach with intestines protruding, while he also partially slitted his throat.

Christopher Kabwe, 38, who was the arresting officer, testified before Kabwe High Court Judge Elita Mwikisa that the accused person attempted to commit suicide for the second time, while he was admitted to Kabwe General Hospital after he pulled off the drips forcing authorities to handcuff him.

This is in a case in which Given Mwiinga, 32, is alleged to have murdered his wife, Aphlonia Kalibo in January last year in Chibombo before attempting to take his own life by stabbing himself on the throat and stomach.

The witness said the accused person confessed to him that he murdered his wife using an axe because she had refused to reconcile with him following their separation.

"My lady when we arrived at Mwaisopelo Village, we found that the accused person was unable to talk and was lying unconscious as a result of the throat and stomach wounds which looked like the wounds were rotting and we had to rush to Liteta Hospital but we were referred to Kabwe General hospital, "he said.

He said according to a postmortem conducted on the deceased, it revealed that she died of head injuries inflicted using a sharp instrument and later presented a knife, hoe and a curving axe as part of evidence in the matter amid murmuring, disbelief and shock from the public in the gallery.

Meanwhile, a Mkushi man and two of his sons who are alleged to have murdered a witchfinder over allegations that he accused them of practising witchcraft were found with a case to answer and have opened their defence.

This is in a case in which Alex Masako, 57, Kenani Masako, 35, and Erick Masako, 30, are alleged to have murdered Alex Mumba Makalai on January 11, 2012.

In their defence,Alex Masako told Judge Mwikisa that the deceased was the one who attacked him in a fight and he had to fight back, while the other two denied ever participating in the beating of Mr Makalai who later died.

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